Oligomers of well-defined length were prepared by a stepwise sequence of Suzuki couplings using brominated 1,4-dioxo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) derivatives and 1,4-dibromo-2,5-di-n-hexylbenzene as the monomers. The resulting oligomers contained three, five and seven DPP units, respectively, and could be characterized by H-1 NMR spectroscopy. These compounds could be of potential use as new electroluminescent materials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.